Young Leaders Subspoke 
The Young Leaders Subspoke is part of the Leadership Development Spoke within A Bolder Way Forward. This subspoke is committed to building a future where every girl in Utah is seen, heard, and empowered to lead. We bring together a powerful network of organizations and individuals dedicated to amplifying efforts, sharing resources, and fostering collaboration. At the core of our actions is a belief that girls must be at the center of shaping the leadership opportunities meant for them—because real change happens when their voices guide the way. As a statewide hub, this group connects programs, events, and ideas to elevate leadership development and ensure that every young woman has the support and space to rise. We also recognize the vital role that young men and boys play as allies in this work—championing equity, challenging stereotypes, and standing alongside girls in building a more inclusive future.
Join us in creating a path for girls to thrive. Whether you're an educator, parent, student, community leader, organization representative, or advocate, your voice and vision are needed. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive future—one where every girl has the opportunity to lead authentically.
Subspoke Leaders
Steph Smith
Founder, The Path Made Possible
LinkedIn Profile
Steph Smith’s mission is to empower women & girls to find and pursue their unique path. She accomplishes this through coaching, network weaving, and leadership programs that foster confidence, connection, and purpose.
Jen Werner
Owner, Jen Werner Coaching
LinkedIn Profile
Jen Werner is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with nearly a decade of experience helping individuals and teams unlock their potential through values-driven leadership and personal growth. She empowers others to rise, lead, and thrive. Her motto: 'Be Uniquely You'.
Bold Vision & Goals
The following goals have been identified to ensure that every girl and young woman in Utah has access to meaningful leadership opportunities—shaped by their voices, supported by a statewide network, and rooted in equity—so they can rise as confident, capable, authentic leaders in their communities and beyond.
Vision: A Utah where every girl and young woman is empowered to lead—her voice valued, her potential recognized, and her path supported by a connected, inclusive community committed to her growth and success.
Goals:
- Expand Access to Leadership Opportunities
- Host 4+ leadership development events or workshops per year, reaching 600 girls by 2027.
- Partner with 5+ organizations serving rural/marginalized girls and support 50 underserved girls by 2027.
- Launch a statewide girls’ leadership directory by 2026, with 50+ programs.
- Center Girls’ Voices in Program Design
- Host 4+ youth-led focus groups each year to gather real input.
- Launch a Youth Advisory Council (with 10+ diverse members) by 2025 and offer 2+ leadership trainings annually.
- Report annually on 3+ program changes driven by youth feedback.
- Build a Statewide Leadership Network
- Partner with 25+ organizations by 2026 and host quarterly roundtables.
- Launch an online hub by 2026 and host an annual leadership summit.
- Engage 10+ schools, non-profits, businesses, and government partners in joint projects by 2027.
- Integrate Leadership into Existing Youth Programs
- Help 15+ youth programs integrate leadership development by 2030.
- Support 30+ girl-led projects or leadership roles within partner organizations by 2030.
- Deliver 6+ workshops or toolkits to help organizations build leadership into their work by 2027.
- Serve as the Statewide Hub for Girls’ Leadership Development
- Launch an online hub by 2026 with events, programs, and resources - aiming for 1,000+ visitors/year.
- Facilitate 10+ strategic introductions between organizations each year.
- Publish an annual State of Girls’ Leadership in Utah report starting in 2027.
Thriving Statement: Girls and young women thrive when they see themselves (and are seen) as leaders, shape the opportunities designed for them, and are supported by a strong, connected community that believes in their power to lead.
Opportunities:
Courses:
Research:
- Utah Girls, Young Women, & Physical Activity
- What Young Women Leaders Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Utah Girls and Teens
- What Utah Fathers Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Their Daughters
- What Elementary School Administrators Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Utah Girls
- What Utah Mothers Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Their Daughters
- What School Counselors Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Utah Young Women
- The 2023 Girls Index by ROX
Partners
Working Groups
- Clubs
- Young Leaders College Campuses: Kristyn Allred (Director - Huntsman Hive and Freshman Academy, USU Huntsman School of Business) & Ruchi Watson (Managing Director/CEO - Goff Strategic Leadership Center, University of Utah)
- Organizations: Steph Smith (Founder & Life Coach, The Path Made Possible) & Jen Werner (Owner/Principal Coach, Jen Werner Coaching)
- Parents
- Youth Advisory Council
What You Can Do
Contact us to join our network of organizations and individuals committed to empowering young leaders, whether through volunteering, joining a roundtable, forming a club, planning events, or sharing what you’re already doing.
Check out our hub of opportunities, including activities/programs for girls, opportunities for their mentorship, and ways you can get involved by volunteering or mentoring. And take a look at this calendar to find events near you!
Share the wealth! Don’t have time to commit to volunteering? You can still make a huge difference by sharing our page on social media and spreading the word about events and opportunities with families you know so they can take advantage. You can also support organizations by sharing and liking their posts and attending their events.